Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Makes EV History at Nürburgring, Leaving Porsche and Tesla in Its Dust

Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra has rewritten Nürburgring’s unofficial records, racing through the Nordschleife loop in 6:48.874 minutes. Outpacing the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT by nearly 20 seconds, Xiaomi’s prototype sedan made history with sheer speed, foreshadowing a fierce EV production debut next year.

Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra Sets New Unofficial Lap Record at Nürburgring

At the Nürburgring, the SU7 Ultra, manufactured by the Chinese electronics behemoth, smashed the record for a four-door vehicle. Even though the lightning-quick is only a prototype, the company intends to formally attempt to break the record next year.

Known as "The Green Hell" due to its 12.9-mile Nordschleife loop track, Xiaomi's planned high-performance first car managed to complete the course in 6 minutes, 48.874 seconds, according to a Tuesday announcement. By a margin of over 20 seconds, that time exceeded the official record for the circuit.

Xiaomi’s Prototype Leaves Porsche and Tesla in the Dust

The previous record was achieved earlier this year by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which completed the round of the twisting 12.9-mile course in 7 minutes and 7.55 seconds. Prior to it, the previous record holder was a 7:25.23-minute Tesla Model S Plaid.

Although it broke the record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, the SU7 Ultra is not yet eligible to be entered in the Nürburgring record book.

Why the Prototype Run Won't Enter Nürburgring’s Record Books—Yet

The company's footage of the record-setting run makes it evident that the EV was simply a prototype, which is why it set the record. The electric vehicle's accelerator pedal momentarily malfunctions just after the 4:00 mark in the video; ideally, this won't be a problem with the finalized sedan. The most important Nürburgring records—or at least the ones that brands boast about most—are for production vehicles.

Although the SU7 Ultra's racetrack performance was remarkable, it was not unexpected.

Xiaomi’s Bold Strategy to Dominate EV Performance Records

Xiaomi has been quite vocal about its intention to attempt to break the Nürburgring record with its super sedan ever since the model was introduced earlier this summer. The SU7 Ultra has all the hallmarks of a revolutionary electric vehicle, even though this was all marketing jargon when it was announced.

The production version will have a tri-motor drivetrain with 1,548 horsepower, allowing it to reach a top speed of 217 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.97 seconds. That's why the business is instituting a test requirement for prospective drivers.

A Two-Phased Plan for Record-Breaking Success

Xiaomi has a two-pronged plan to establish the new benchmark at that time. The first step was to establish the informal benchmark this fall, and the second was to aim for the second sometime in the following year.